Leesa Mattress Review

What you get with Leesa

Leesa, launched in 2014, was among the first companies to sell its mattress direct to consumers and exclusively online. It is known for its proprietary 3-layer construction that includes Avena foam, memory foam and a dense core. The company – and its mattress – gets consistently positive reviews based primarily on mattress comfort, a risk-free guarantee, a 100-night trial period, and strong social impact initiatives (the company donates 1 mattress for every 10 sold, plants trees, and supports local communities).

These key characteristics contribute to the favorable reputation of the Leesa mattress:

Hybrid foam combination: Leesa utilizes memory foam to achieve comfort and bounce but offsets it tendency to sleep hot by layering Avena foam on top (a latex foam alternative). This layering provides airflow, a cool top layer, and comfort while remaining supportive.

Adaptability: This mattress adapts well to all body shapes and sizes and all sleeping styles. It is useful for couples since each side adapts separately and differently to each partner.

Cover: The Leesa cover is made from a single piece of poly-lycra blend fabric that wraps the entire mattress. The material is woven well and is fairly thick.

Compression shipping: Because the mattress is compressed before shipping, it arrives in a manageable box that allows you to get the mattress in the right room and in place on the bed base before opening and decompressing. Industry experts note that the compression process improves the life of the mattress as well.

In contrast, these are some potential weaknesses to note about the Leesa:

Firmness: The Leesa mattress is said by many consumers to be too firm especially for side sleepers.

Edge support: This mattress sinks as much 4” – 4.5” during normal sitting on the edge, though it does not lose structural integrity. Its support is focused more in the center or core of the mattress.

Odor: When initially unboxed, the mattress has a chemical odor that can last up to several days before dissipating.

About Leesa

Brand history

Leesa is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia and remains privately held by its co-founders, David Wolfe and Jamie Diamonstein. Before launching Leesa, Wolfe was a strategy consultant in various industries and Diamonstein was a mattress designer in a family-owned business for nearly 3 decades.

The two men focused on designing and manufacturing a single mattress that would adapt to all body shapes, sizes, and sleeping styles. In the process, they discovered that they could retain the benefits of memory foam but eliminate its “sleep hot” characteristic by layering Avena foam on top of it. Avena foam is an alternative to latex that has greater durability and reduced compression over time.

After completing the mattress design, they priced it well below bricks and mortar mattress showrooms, conceived of a process for compressing it into a manageable-sized box for shipment, and established an online store with straightforward ordering processes.

Only recently has the company begun making a second mattress called the Sapira.

Brand reputation

Leesa has a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB); however, the BBB bases 33% of its rating on BBB customer reviews and the site reflects only 1 of those. The 67% of the rating based on the BBB’s assessment of how likely the company is to interact positively with its customers shows a favorable assessment.

The nearly 10,000 reviews posted on the Leesa website show that 72% of customers give the mattress a 5-star rating and 15% of customers give the mattress a 4-star rating. On Amazon, the cumulative rating from over 500 reviews is 4.3.

Leesa is best known for being 100% American-made and for its 3 social impact initiatives – they donate mattresses (1 for every 10 that are sold, and any that are returned by customers), plant trees, and support local communities.

Customer feedback

Here are the most frequently cited pros and cons as noted in reviews by Leesa customers:

Pros:

Price

Temperature (does not sleep “hot”)

Customer service

100-day sleep trial

Easy setup

Social conscience

Motion isolation

Seamless cover

Cons:

Odor

Edge support

Too firm for some sleepers

No handles for lifting or moving

Complex returns via UPS*

*This applies when the mattress is purchased from Amazon; if purchased from the Leesa online store, Leesa will help arrange for a donation or recycling center to pick up the mattress.

A look at the Leesa mattress

The 100% American-made Leesa mattress is available in 6 sizes ranging from Twin to California King. It is comprised of 3 layers of adaptable foam designed to provide core strength, pressure relief, cooling, and bounce. The layers are:

Avena foam: This 2” top layer is an alternative to latex foam and creates a cooler sleep.

Memory foam: The next 2” layer provides support and pressure relief, and adapts to all body shapes and sizes.

Dense core support: The final 6” layer adds strength and structure.

All layers are breathable so the mattress will not absorb excess heat.

Other features include:

Cover: The Leesa mattress has a unique cover cut from a single piece of fabric that wraps the entire mattress. The fabric is fairly thick and is constructed from a poly-lycra blend that wears well.

Frame compatibility: The mattress is designed to feel best when sitting on a firm, flat surface; solid or slatted bases are recommended rather than traditional box springs. If using a slatted base, Leesa recommends that the slats be no more than 3” apart.

Certification: In addition to the hypo-allergenic quality of Avena foam, it is also CertiPUR-US®-certified.

Leesa costs and guarantees

Price

Sleep trial

Leesa offers customers a 100-night sleep trial. If a customer chooses to return their mattress, the company will arrange to have it picked up by a local charity or a recycle partner. Once the mattress is picked up, they will refund the full purchase price.

Shipping

Shipping is free on Leesa mattresses. Each one is made to order and shipped via UPS Ground (no expedited shipping is available). While shipping times vary depending on customer location, the entire process typically takes about 10 days.

The mattresses are compressed, vacuum-packed, rolled, and boxed for shipment. Box dimensions vary depending on mattress size. The Twin, Twin XL, Full, and Queen mattresses ship in a box that is 15” x 15” x 45”, while the King and California King ship in an 18” x 18” x 45” box.

Once your mattress arrives, there are only a few steps required for setup:

Take the box into the room where you will be using it.

Remove the mattress roll from the box (avoid using a sharp object to open the box since you risk cutting the mattress).

It may take up to an hour for the Leesa to fully expand and a few days for it to fully firm up.

You can watch the video illustrating the setup steps below.

Warranty

Leesa offers a 10-year, non-prorated warranty on each of their mattresses.

How Leesa performs

Motion isolation

The Leesa mattress minimizes motion transfer. The Avena foam top layer absorbs movement, meaning one sleeper will feel minimal effects when the other sleeper is changing positions or getting out of bed. This works especially well for couples.

Edge support

All foam mattresses tend to sink down around the edges, and the Leesa mattress is no different. When sitting on the edge of this mattress, sinkage is 3-4” as weight is applied but it does not collapse or lose structural integrity.

Durability

Most foam mattresses have long lives because the materials in them are durable, meaning you can expect 6-10 years of use. Because the Leesa brand is fairly new, its lifespan is not yet documented but there is no reason to think it would not provide similar results if cared for as directed.

Firmness

On a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most firm, the Leesa mattress is a 6 (there are no firmness options), meaning it is medium to medium-firm. While this level may feel too firm for those who prefer side sleeping, the mattress does soften over time and the top layer of Avena foam adds softness.

Temperature

The Leesa mattress does not have any special built-in cooling mechanisms like gel mattresses, but the 3-layer design allows maximum airflow between all layers and the foam draws heat away from the sleeper. Most customers note that the Leesa does not “sleep hot” as many memory foam mattresses do.

Offgassing

When unboxed, the Leesa mattress does have an odor that is chemical in nature, but this is typical for foam mattresses. Most customers report that the odor dissipates after several hours up to a few days.

Sex

The Avena foam used in the top layer of the Leesa mattress is very responsive, meaning it quickly changes shape and molds to your body. It is also easy to move around on – you won’t sink into it – so it performs well during amorous activities.

How to take care of your Leesa mattress

The Leesa mattress has a unique cover made from a single piece of poly-lycra blend fabric. The company does not recommend removing the cover for washing. Instead, for spills and stains, spot treat the area with mild detergent and cool water. It’s best to blot and dab rather than scrub the cover or apply force. Be sure to allow it to air dry completely before replacing bedding.

While you cannot flip the mattress because of the layered construction, you can rotate it every few months. It is also recommended that you utilize a mattress protector.

Connect with Leesa

For more information about the Leesa mattress and/or company, visit Leesa through these channels: